The Contracts for Arts Services (CAS) program is pleased to announce the FY2019 guidelines are available on the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs website. In addition, the application workshop schedule is available. The FY2019 Virtual Application Workshops covers the CAS guidelines and the application process. CAS grants both general operating and project support to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, NPUs, Neighborhood Associations and Individual Artists based in the City of Atlanta.
The FY2019 Contracts for Arts Services deadline for submitting your online application has been extended to April 30, 2018.
The deadline for submitting HARD COPY applications for the Neighborhood Arts Grant has been extended to April 30, 2018.
To review the Contracts for Arts Services guidelines and deadlines click here.
Join us Saturday, January 27th at 8:00 PM at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Theatre for an evening with Grammy Award Nominated Jazzmeia Horn as part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Emerging Jazz Icons Series. To purchase tickets visit here.
Join us Saturday, November 4th at 8:00 PM at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium for an evening with Charenee Wade as part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Emerging Jazz Icons Series. To purchase tickets visit here.
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced today that the ELEVATE public art festival will be held in various locations in Downtown Atlanta from Saturday, October 14 through Saturday, October 21. ELEVATE: Enlighten seeks to provide a platform for artists and art professionals to share and exchange knowledge and experiences that have shaped their work. Participating artists will touch on issues surrounding the plight of veterans, issues of gentrification, and the power of healing through art, while art professionals will lead panels and workshops about public art trends, the business of being an artist, and community empowered projects. All events are free and open to the public.
“Art can elevate your senses and expand your ideas about the world around you,” said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We invite anyone who enjoys contemporary art and exploring Downtown’s evolving cultural landscape to attend this year’s festival. Our events will be lively, interesting, and provocative. We’ll have interactive art installations, music and dance performances, murals, the hottest spoken word poets, panel discussions, an eclectic block party, and much more. Make plans to join us.”
Here are some highlights of ELEVATE: Enlighten.
LEFT OUT art installation opening on October 14 from 4:30-8 p.m. at Gallery 72, 72 Marietta Street.
LEFT OUT uses found art, video filmed by soldiers from the battlefield, testimonials, interviews, poetry, and photos to help audiences internalize the experience of combat veterans in America. Carlos Thompson and Morgan Carlisle have created art based on their experiences of attaining “normalcy” after returning home from war`.
“We want to provide insights to the subculture of battle-hardened veterans. LEFT OUT aims to educate and promote discussion about those who have suffered mental and physical trauma during and after war,” states Carlisle. “Our hope is that these conversations can lead to understanding and healing.”
Inner City Urban: Vine City. This exhibition of 30 photographs by Rose Smith will be seen on kiosks throughout Downtown Atlanta beginning on October 14, including two kiosks in Broad Street Plaza.
This body of work is a photographic declaration significant to the lives of Black Americans and gentrification. It focuses on the common misperception of Black Americans narrated by the media and sheds light on a historic Atlanta neighborhood established in the 19th century.
Write a Haiku and Win Tickets to BOY. Enter our contest to win a pair of tickets to see the new play, BOY, on October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Theatrical Outfit. The first 75 people to submit a haiku about Atlanta will win! One entry per person, and you must be 18 years or older. Enter here: ELEVATE Atlanta Haiku
BOY is Inspired by a fascinating true story and best-selling biography. It asks: does nature or nurture determine who and how we love? A doctor convinces parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after an accident, and years later, repercussions of that choice alter lives. With humor and tenderness, BOY explores the tricky terrain of loving oneself and others amidst the confusion of gender identity.
Artist & Community Workshops and Panels will be held in the Watershed Auditorium, 72 Marietta Street.
Seven New Murals in South Downtown will be created for ELEVATE by artists Ernesto Torres, Lydia Futral, Muhammad Yungai, Jo Di Bona, Gyun Hur, Corey Barksdale and BlackCatTips. Come find them!
TGIF Performance Showcase will take place on Friday, October 20 from 7-10 p.m. at Woodruff Park. Come enjoy an evening of music, dance and spoken word.
ELEVATE Block Party will close out this year’s festival on Saturday, October 21 from 6-11 p.m. in Woodruff Park. Hear fresh spins ranging from Afro-Latin to R&B and Techno by members of WERC CREW, Morph and Choloteca.
ELEVATE is a program of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit: http://elevateatlart.com/.
The Public Art Program’s Conservation and Maintenance team restored the Two-Headed Snake by artist Burgess Dulaney. The restoration was led by Robert Witherspoon, assisted by arists Machiko Ichihara and Jeremee Prioleau. The piece is located in Folk Art Park at Courtland Street NE and Ralph McGill Boulevard NE.
Invited panelists include editor of The Art of Steffen Thomas, Dr. Andrew Hayes, the daughter of Steffen Thomas, Lisa Conner, City of Atlanta Public Art Collections Manager, Robert Witherspoon, and public art artist Deana Sirlin and Georgia State University Regent’s Professor Emeritus George Beasley (by Skype from Scotland). The panel will be moderated by Gallery 72 Project Coordinator, Kevin Sipp.
For information on the exhibition please visit the Gallery 72 page. For More information on the Southern Graphics Council International please visit their website.
Steffen Thomas: A Legacy in Atlanta, celebrates the artist’s contributions to the Atlanta art scene from 1930 – 1990. This multi-faceted exhibition and series of programs, presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art, focuses on the public art in metro Atlanta created by Steffen Thomas and includes the following events:
Steffen Thomas was born in Fürth, Germany in 1906 and had a dream from childhood of becoming an artist. He was trained in classical sculpture at the Academy of Fine Art in Munich from 1924 – 1928, achieving Master status at the age of 21. Thomas immigrated to the US in 1928 and settled in Atlanta by 1930. Most of his professional career as an artist was centered in the Atlanta area, and he had a long career as a sculptor, creating many works of public art that can be found in Atlanta and the Southeast. His last studio was in Midtown Atlanta, and after his widow Sara Douglass Thomas found it impossible to establish a museum on the site of his last studio, she decided to build one on land owned by Steffen Thomas, Jr. in rural Morgan County, near Madison, Georgia.
Listed below are detailed descriptions of the programs for STEFFEN THOMAS: A LEGACY IN ATLANTA
Saturday, May 20, 2017 10:00 am – 2:00 pm: An Invitational Plein Air Paint-Out at the site of Trilon, a fountain sculpture created by Steffen Thomas located on Peachtree Street at 15th Street (on Colony Square). Installed in 1975, Trilon won an Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award of Excellence in 1976 and is a part of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs public art collection. The event will also feature the Tufton Tet String Quartet performing classical and Jazz standards.
Thursday, June 8, 6:00-: 9:00 PM: Gallery 72 opens STEFFEN THOMAS: A LEGACY IN ATLANTA an exhibition featuring the artwork of artist Steffen Thomas, along with works created by contemporary artists celebrating his legacy. Running concurrently with this exhibition will be an additional display of selected Steffen Thomas works at the Goethe-Institut located at 1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta GA (at Colony Square).
Artwork from the Invitational Plein Air Paint-Out will be on display alongside original works by Steffen Thomas.
Artists participating in the exhibition are Woody Cyrus, Kendall Portis, Peter Ho-Cumming, Kathy Rennell Forbes, Dante Yarbrough, Jonas Allen, Monika Ruiz, Lisa Whittington, Angus Galloway, Corey Whitehead, Charmaine Minnefield, Roxanne Hollosi. Ted Roman , Margaret Agner, Kate Sherrill , Bev Jones , and Joe Coggins.
Saturday, June 17, 10:00am – 12:00 noon: Walking Public Art Tour – Led by Lisa Conner, daughter of Steffen Thomas and staff members of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The tour will begin at Colony Square located at 1197 Peachtree Street NE. Attendees are asked to meet outside of the Chick-Fil-A.
Thursday, July 27th 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Panel Discussion – Steffen Thomas and the Impact of Public Art. Invited panelists include editor of The Art of Steffen Thomas, Dr. Andrew Hayes, City of Atlanta Public Art Collections Manager, Robert Witherspoon, and artists Deana Sirlin and George Beasley (by Skype) the panel will be moderated by Gallery 72 curator, Kevin Sipp.
Thursday, August 24th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Exhibition opening reception at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art 4200 Bethany Road Buckhead, GA 30625. The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is a single-artist museum dedicated to the life and art of Georgia Master artist Steffen Thomas. The Museum offers a multitude of arts outreach programs to the residents of Northeast and Middle Georgia. In addition, STMA displays a large collection of Steffen Thomas art, including sculpture, paintings, furniture and works on paper.
These events are made possible thanks to our sponsors!
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Cultural Experience Project completed its twelfth year and served over 32,000 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) students. This year also marked a number of “firsts” in the program’s history. For the first time ever, the Cultural Experience Project (CEP) opened the program to all APS students—those who attend both traditional and charter schools. In the past, only students enrolled in traditional schools participated in the CEP programming.
This year also was significant, as we welcomed to the fold one of Atlanta’s newest, and coolest, cultural venues—the College Football Hall of Fame. In addition to learning fun football-related factoids through the lenses of math, science and history, the students also were able to track their favorite college football team throughout their experience and get some time in on the indoor turf.
Another first this year was an amazing partnership with ZuCot Gallery. Located in Atlanta’s Castleberry neighborhood, ZuCot Gallery is a small African American art gallery owned by the Henderson brothers. CEP experiences at ZuCot included much more than the traditional gallery talk. Students who visited ZuCot got plenty of one-on-one time with gallery director/owner Onaje Henderson. Mr. Henderson was generous with his time, and talked with the students at length about the details of managing a small art gallery (Business 101). And, for each school that visited, Mr. Henderson made sure that one of the gallery’s artists was on hand—not only to talk about the art on the wall, but also to talk about his experience as a working artist. Students loved it, and asked tons of great questions about the business of running an art gallery as well as what it takes to make a living as an artist.
The 2016-2017 academic year marked the first time CEP worked with France-Atlanta. The program, Cartooning for Peace, brought together local and international political cartoonists to talk about the role political cartoons play not only during an election year, but also their role in a democracy. Atlanta’s own Mike Luckovitch participated, and fielded questions from students eager to learn about the intersection of art and politics.
Also this year, CEP welcomed the Chattahoochee Nature Center back to the program. Students who visited the Center learned about Georgia’s many ecosystems and had opportunities to meet some of the animals that call those environments home. They also learned about the importance of caring for our environment, conserving our natural resources and respecting nature.
Another organization that returned after a brief hiatus was Theatrical Outfit. High School students sat for two presentations of Thurgood, a one-man performance about the life and career of famed attorney and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
As we prepare for our 13th year—working, again, alongside staff at many of Atlanta’s premier cultural and arts organizations, we look back on this year and say, thank you, to our venue partners, and to APS and its amazing staff. We especially thank our funding organizations and donors: The Kendeda Fund, Zeist Foundation, MailChimp, H.J. Russell Family, Mark & Evelyn Trammell Foundation, Charles Loridans Foundation, Conolly Family Foundation, PNC Bank, Georgia Power Foundation, and the Jack and Anne Glenn Foundation. Together, they raised $539,000. These experiences could not happen without this important financial support or without everyone’s hard work and dedication to Atlanta’s youth. Thank you! We look forward to seeing everyone next year for many more fantastic Atlanta cultural experiences with CEP.
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The exhibition will feature a selection of artworks that were used over the years to create posters for the Atlanta Jazz Festival. The exhibition will feature the artwork of notable artist such as Wadsworth Jarrell, Sam Middleton, Michael Bryan, Charly Palmer, Zachariah A. Anderson, Anthony Liggins, Latrelle Dubose, Corey Barksdale and others. The exhibition will open April 27TH with a reception to take place May 4th. The show will run until June 1st 2017.
The City of Atlanta has been recognized by the Phi Beta Kappa Society with the Arts & Sciences City of Distinction award. ELEVATE is also being recognized as one of the arts programs in Atlanta that has contributed to the art & culture of the region. Join us for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as the Phi Beta Kappa Society honors Atlanta as an Arts & Sciences City of Distinction and celebrate our artistic vitality, cultural vibrancy, and active engagement with the arts & sciences.
Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, will accept the award on behalf of the city.
The celebration will include special recognition of:
Elevate at the Office of Cultural Affairs
The Atlanta Science Festival
The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection
Center for Collaborative & International Arts at Georgia State University
April April 22nd – June 5th
40th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Photography Exhibition is a juried exhibition of photography reflecting images of forty years of the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
Juried by Gregory J. Harris
Assistant Curator of Photography | High Museum of Art
To register for a class or activity, please visit our iPARCS online registration system.
Or call Chastain Arts Center’s Registration Office at 404.252.2927.
Art á la Carte Summer Camp
Chastain Arts Center and Gallery
Our Summer Camp encourages artistic expression and offers children an experience filled with creative energy.
In keeping with our playful food and restaurant theme, our “menu” of selections allows you to choose the week, or weeks, you want. Each week explores a different discipline through two- and three- dimensional projects in clay, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, mixed media, and more. Along with visual arts, all age groups will enjoy movement arts such as yoga, acting, and improvisation.
Pre-Registration (for 2016 campers) Begins: Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Open Registration Begins: Monday, February 13, 2017
Camp Begins: Monday, June 12, 2017
Camp Ends: Friday, August 4, 2017
Age Groups:
Small Fries – Ages 5-6
Curly Fries- Ages 7-8
French Fries- Ages 9-10
Home Fries – Ages 11-12
Camp Sessions are Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 2:30 pm
Fee: $200 per week
For more information visit here
During his State of the City speech on February 2, Mayor Kasim Reed announced his plans to pursue a one-tenth of a penny sales tax, or SPLOST, for dedicated arts funding.
The sales tax must be approved by City of Atlanta voters. Mayor Reed will seek approval from the Georgia General Assembly during its current legislative session to place the sales tax on the November ballot. Following approval from the state legislature, the Reed Administration will present a full proposal for the SPLOST to the public.
Mayor Reed expressed his desire to hear from arts organizations, artists and other interested parties in how these funds could most effectively be deployed within the city. Please help us by filling out the survey!
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) Public Art Services celebrates the completion of the Freedom Park Pathway Public Art Project – Journey to Freedom: Women of the Civil Rights Movement by Lynn Marshall Linnemeier with photographs by Dr. Doris A. Derby, Shelia Turner and Susan Ross. RSVP by visiting our Eventbrite page.
Join us Thursday, February 16th, for the opening reception of our new exhibition- Southern Graphics Council International Conference Exhibition Featuring University of Georgia Alumni.
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is seeking art leaders and professionals, as well as business and community members who are interested in serving on grant advisory panels for the 2018 fiscal year. Panelists play a vital role in reviewing grant applications to assist the OCA in granting public funding to the arts.
FY18 Panelist Guidelines: click here
FY18 Panelists Application: click here
Renew Atlanta’s team has been hard at work restoring several of the City of Atlanta’s public artworks.
Watch this video to learn more about the Bond’s goals and accomplishments!
Click here to learn more about the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond.
Click Here to Download the full Studioplex RFP
CALL FOR ARTISTS – Public Art for Georgia Aquarium
I. Overview
Georgia Aquarium is accepting artists’ concepts for two mural projects to be located on the exterior of our building. The purpose of the murals is to bring a sense of arrival for our guests, to bring curb appeal to our building and to help invigorate downtown Atlanta. When completed, the mural will be two large digital prints facing Ivan Allen Blvd. will be 406’ by 57’ in size and the mural facing Luckie St. will be 251’ by 49’ in size.
II. Project electric scooters Description and Scope of Work
Georgia Aquarium is initially asking for design concepts and examples of similar works for this project. After the review process, we will then pay a negotiated fee for development of the concept. The artist(s) will not be asked to print or install the artwork, only provide the art or design, which will be reproduced onto a mesh banner. The Aquarium would requests the following marquee animals be incorporated into the design concept: African penguins (Luckie St. side) and whale sharks and manta rays (Ivan Allen Blvd. side). The art is purely aesthetic and should not include advertisements or logos of any kind, including that of Georgia Aquarium.
III. Art Goals
This opportunity consists of two distinct yet interrelated components that should achieve a cohesive and unique aesthetic experience. The artwork must be designed to be safely viewed by vehicular traffic arriving to the Aquarium at speeds of 0-40mph. The artwork must create a welcoming experience that is memorable to our guests. The art installation should be unified with Georgia Aquarium’s brand standards, which is to say standards befitting a world-class organization.
This call is open to both professional and amateur artists.
IV. Selection Process
This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable Georgia Aquarium to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. A selection panel of Aquarium leadership will review artist’s applications and concept ideas and will determine a shortlist of three to five finalists. Georgia Aquarium may contract one Artist (or Artist Group) to fulfill both murals or choose two Artists, one to design each mural. Georgia Aquarium does not guarantee that any commissions will result from this call.
V. Selection Criteria
The artist will be selected on the basis of the following criteria, as evidenced in application materials and conversations with Aquarium representatives: artistic merit in concept and fabrication, incorporation of marquee animals, demonstrated ability to collaborate in the early phases of a project with Aquarium representatives and stakeholders, demonstrated ability to complete projects on time and within budget.
VI. Projected Timeline
VII. To Apply
Applications must be received via email to mlewis@georgiaaquarium.org by 5:00pm, December 9, 2016. There is no application fee to apply. Please include:
Up to three finalists will be chosen by the selection committee. An honorarium of $2,000, plus travel expenses if traveling from outside the metro Atlanta area will be provided. Travel expenses include either mileage reimbursement or airfare, lodging and meals for the duration of one site visit to Georgia Aquarium. The final fee will be negotiated with the artist chosen to complete the project.
VIII. Submission Deadline
Applications will be accepted via electronic copy by 5:00pm, December 9, 2016.
IX. Inquiries
If you have any questions regarding this RFP, please contact Michael Lewis at mlewis@georgiaaquarium.org.
X. Risk
Persons responding to this call do so at their sole expense and risk. Georgia Aquarium reserves the right to change or cancel this call at any time. Any changes made to this call shall be made by means of a written addendum. It shall be the responsibility of the Artist to assure that all addenda have been received prior to submitting a proposal. If it is deemed necessary, an addendum to this call will be issued through xxx.
XI. About Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that contains more than 10 million gallons of water and has the largest collection of aquatic animals. Georgia Aquarium’s mission is to be a scientific institution that entertains and educates, features exhibits and programs of the highest standards, and offers engaging and exciting guest experiences that promote the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.
Luckie Street View
Ivan Allen Blvd. View
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The Mural Bike Rack project is the newest addition to the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Services programming. The project provided the opportunity for 18 local artists (for a list of the artists, visit here) to design and paint locally crafted bike-shaped racks. The bike racks have been installed at 18 different locations around the City of Atlanta’s center.
Map of the bike rack locations:
Artist: Niki Zarrabi // Location: Barnes and Noble, Georgia Tech Campus
Artist: Danny Abyss // Location: Near Clothing Warehouse in Little Five Points
Artist: David Bardis // Location: West End Commercial District, 1549 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
Artist: John Tindel // Location: Broad St. SW, near Mammal Gallery
Artist: King Pig // Location: Outback Bikes, Little Five Points
Artist: erinthegreat // Location: the Varsity, North Ave
Artist: Kyle Brooks // Location: McClendon Ave, Candler Park, in front of Fellini’s Pizza
Artist: Hadley Breckenridge // Location: McClendon Ave, Candler Park, in front of Candler Park Market
Artist: Nancy Barbosa // Location: Woodruff Park, Downtown Atlanta
Artist: Terri Dilling // Location: Inman Park, North Highland Ave, across from Parish Cafe
Artist: Julio Ceballos // Location: JD Sims Rec Center
Artist: Craig Singleton // Location: Near West End MARTA Station
Artist: Alea Hurst // Location: Near Gallery 992 on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, West End
Artist: Linda Mitchell // Location: West Midtown, 999 Marietta St. NW
Artist: Sanithna // Location: Irwin Street Market, Irwin St
Artist: Tatiana Veneruso // Location: Corner of Ellis St. and Peachtree St.
Artist: Machiko Ichihara // Location: near Glenn Hotel, Downtown Atlanta
Artist: Deanna Sirlin // Location: 243 Auburn Ave, Odd Fellows Building
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is proud to announce this year’s ELEVATE public art festival! The theme of this year’s ELEVATE public art festival is Microcosm.
During ELEVATE: Microcosm artists will explore how a community reflects the larger world around it. Four curators have assembled more than 200 artists to create contemporary art and cultural events in order to spark dialogue around how a community deals with social, racial, and economic issues ranging from inequity to gentrification. ELEVATE Microcosm will take place in south downtown Atlanta, primarily on Broad Street SW. This emerging cultural district seeks to use creativity to build community and inspire constructive change in collaboration with the area’s stakeholders. The festival will be held from Thursday, October 13 through Friday, October 21. All events are free and open to the public.
“Festival attendees will be able to engage with artists, historians, and area residents,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We hope people who live and work in Atlanta will participate. We also invite anyone who enjoys contemporary art, and is interested in exploring ideas around community. Our events will be lively, interesting, and provocative. We’ll have a fabulous block party, interactive art installations, dance performances, large-scale murals, panel discussions, and historic bike and walking tours. Make plans to join us.”
ELEVATE Microcosm is being curated by Allie Bashuk, Monica Campana, Mark DiNatale and Pastiche Lumumba.
Participating artists and art groups will include:
Bae (DeCoteau, MIKKOH, Hourglass and Osho)
Black Power Party #2 – Black Girl Magic – featuring:
Minister James Pullin + Atlanta Baptist Gospel Choir
Hank Willis Thomas (in partnership with Flux Projects)
Jean “Plantu” Plantureux (in partnership with France Atlanta)
Josephine Figueroa
Michel Kichka (in partnership with France Atlanta)
Mike Luckovich (in partnership with France Atlanta)
Noé Soulier (in partnership with France Atlanta)
Yoyo Ferro (in partnership with Living Walls)
Participating organizations include:
Consulate of France in Atlanta
Sponsors for ELEVATE Microcosm include:
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Media partners include:
For more information, visit the official ELEVATE website at www.elevateatlart.com.
Check out footage from our most recent ELEVATE event we held this past summer, ELEVATE: Summer, and prepare for 9 days of public art experiences this October during ELEVATE: Microcosm!
90.1 WABE, Atlanta’s NPR Radio Station, recently interviewed the Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Collections Manager Robert Witherspoon regarding the maintenance of Atlanta’s ’96 Olympic public artworks.
“Public art is important because it reflects your community and it engages the community and enlightens the community,” he said. “And all great communities deserve great public art.” -Robert Witherspoon
Click here to listen to the full interview!
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The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs – Public Art Services (OCA/PAS) is seeking qualified artists and art groups to perform at our debut ELEVATE summertime event, ELEVATE: Summer. Hosted annually in downtown Atlanta by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, ELEVATE is a temporary public art program that seeks to activate the downtown Atlanta area through visual art, performances, and cultural events. The focus of ELEVATE is to provide free public art and community engagement experiences with the goal of increasing the cultural and economic vitality of the downtown area. Through workshops, panel discussions and public art, the OCA/PAS seeks to create events through ELEVATE that promote the creative community of Atlanta, impact the Atlanta economy, increase the quality of life for our citizens and gain global attention for our city as a creative and culturally engaging contemporary city. In order to extend this goal, this year, the OCA/PAS has decided to supplement October’s ELEVATE program with a one-day summer event, titled ELEVATE: Summer. This request for qualifications is seeking applicants in the fields of performance art, dance and music to perform as a part of ELEVATE: Summer.
Click here to access the PDF of the RFQ application process. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, June 21st by 5:00 pm EST. Questions concerning this Call for Artists should be directed to the email address elevateatlanta@gmail.com or via phone at 404-546-6980.
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The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs – Public Art Services (OCA) is proud to announce the debut of a one day summer ELEVATE event called ELEVATE: Summer. This event will be the start of making the ELEVATE public art program a year-round experience. ELEVATE: Summer will feature public art installations, music, dance, performance art, food, and drinks. This new summertime event will take place on Broad St. SW on Friday, July 22nd from 3:00-11:00 pm.
Hosted annually in downtown Atlanta by the OCA, ELEVATE is a temporary public art program that seeks to activate the downtown Atlanta area through visual art, performances, and cultural events. The focus of ELEVATE is to provide free public art and community engagement experiences with the goal of increasing the cultural and economic vitality of the downtown area. Through workshops, panel discussions, partnerships, collaborations, and public art, the OCA seeks to create events through the ELEVATE public art program that promote the creative community of Atlanta, impact the Atlanta economy, increase the quality of life for our citizens, and gain global attention for our city as a creative and culturally engaging contemporary city. In order to extend this goal, this year, the OCA has decided to supplement October’s ELEVATE program with ELEVATE: Summer. During this summer event the OCA will announce the theme for October’s ELEVATE program.
Stay tuned in to our website and social media platforms for upcoming news on ELEVATE: Summer!}
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will host an Artist Talk Thursday, June 9th, 2016, featuring Cynthia Farnell at Gallery 72.
Cynthia Farnell’s dual installations, Ancestors and Milk and Wine, are explorations of cultural and personal memory via the intertextual relationships between photographs, objects and projected images. Ancestors is a surreal mingling of mythological and archetypal imagery related to Farnell’s ancestral ties in Alabama and the Caribbean. Milk and Wine uses her father’s lifelong hobby of cultivating lilies to explore how we incorporate, carry, and pass on memory, place and identity.
The talk will take place on Thursday, June 9th , 2016 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public.
Gallery 72 at 2 City Plaza, is a municipal gallery operated by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs dedicated to presenting stimulating and thought provoking contemporary art and programs that focus on advancing Atlanta’s arts offering.
The gallery is located at 72 Marietta Street NW Atlanta Ga. 30303 and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
ABOUT ARTIST CYNTHIA FARNELL:
Cynthia Farnell uses lens-based media to explore the meanings of community, place and identity in contemporary life. Her work is exhibited internationally and is in the collections of The International Center of Photography, The Jule Collins Smith and the Burroughs-Chapin Art Museums. She earned her M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design, her B.F.A. from Auburn University and a Certificate of the General Studies of Photography from the International Center of Photography.
Her studio and curatorial projects have been supported by grants from The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Consulate General of France in Atlanta, Fulton County Arts and Culture, The Center for Collaborative and International Arts at Georgia State University, the Humanities Council South Carolina and the South Carolina Arts Commission, among others.
NEARBY PARKING:
104 Marietta Street Parking Garage (176 feet NW), 79 Marietta Street Parking Garage (245 feet NE)
Centennial Tower Parking Garage (332 feet NE), Paid street parking is available near the gallery.
NEARBY MARTA RAIL STATIONS: Take the Gold line to Five Points Station. Exit the station on the Forsyth street side and turn right, walk northeast on Forsyth Street, and turn left on Marietta Street. Walk one block to Fairlie Street. After crossing Fairlie Street the gallery will be on the left.
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The Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the country’s largest, free jazz festivals. It is an annual music showcase that celebrates both Jazz legends and up-and-coming Jazz greats in venues throughout metropolitan Atlanta during the entire month of May. The festival culminates on Memorial weekend with a three-day festival at Piedmont Park.
For a complete calendar of May Jazz events around Atlanta, visit this calendar: http://atlantafestivals.com/events/
For general information about the festival including the Memorial Weekend festival lineups, logistics, and other details, visit the main Jazz Festival website here: http://atlantafestivals.com/
Cameroonian Author Audifac Ignace will celebrate the release of his new children’s book Cuckoo and the Destiny with a theatrical musical performance and reading at Gallery 72. This event will be co-hosted by The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. This event is free and open to the public. However, we do ask that you RSVP to the event via Eventbrite. Click here to RSVP.
About the Book
“Cuckoo and the Destiny” is a fascinating story of the life of Moni, the pregnant cuckoo bird who decides to abandon her home, her mom Kima, and all her relatives to fly far away to the forest of Shudime. Unfortunately, Moni is not accepted by the animal kingdom she has migrated to. As a newcomer she may easily get eaten, and cannot build a nest for shelter to lay her eggs. With these hardships Moni’s adventure begins.
“Cuckoo and the Destiny” is part of a series of tales told by Audifac’s grandma KWANEUNE, who was living in a forest village of Cameroon when certain values and traditions were strictly orally transmitted. To entertain and educate the children of the village, she danced, sung and told stories using the slogan: “All stories that are not told, are lost.” With his book Cuckoo and the Destiny, Audifac pays homage to his Grandmother and her fascinating folk tales.
About the Author
Born in Cameroon, Audifac Ignace graduated from Italian univerity with degrees in Economics and Communications. He is the former founder and director of the bilingual journal (French and Italian) TAM-TAM TIMES. He worked in the press and radio for over 20 years in Italy. He is the bestseller of the books: “RACCONTI DELLA FORESTA” and : “ET SI DIEU N’AIMAIT PAS LES NOIRS: Enquete sur leracisme au Vatican”. He currently lives and works in Atlanta.
Gallery 72 recently opened a new dual exhibition by artist Cynthia Farnell titled “Ancestors” and “Milk and Wine.” The exhibition will be on view April 14- June 30, 2016.
About the exhibition:
Cynthia Farnell’s dual installations, Ancestors and Milk and Wine, are explorations of cultural and personal memory via the intertextual relationships between photographs, objects and projected images. Ancestors is a surreal mingling of mythological and archetypal imagery related to Farnell’s ancestral ties in Alabama and the Caribbean. Milk and Wine uses her father’s lifelong hobby of cultivating lilies to explore how we incorporate, carry, and pass on memory, place and identity.
About the Artist:
Alabama native Cynthia Farnell is a visual artist working in lens-based media. Much of her work addresses the shifting meanings of home, place, community and identity in contemporary life.
Farnell currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is the director of the Welch School Galleries at Georgia State University. She has exhibited her work internationally including venues in New York City, France, New England and the southern United States. She has been awarded residencies at The Sloss Furnaces Visiting Artist Program in Birmingham, Alabama and at the Virginia Center For Creative Arts in Amherst, Virginia. Her work is in the permanent collections of the International Center of Photography, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and the Myrtle Beach Art Museum.
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The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program hosted an information session on Tuesday, March 15th. The following presentation was given to attendees followed by a brief Q&A session. If you were unable to attend the event and want to learn more about the ELEVATE 2016 Call for Curator please view the presentation by clicking ELEVATE 2016 – Call for Curator – Information Session.
Within the presentation are talking points for this year’s budget, curatorial requirements, considerations, and locations. If you still have questions after reviewing the presentation please email Nicholas Hemenway at nhemenway@atlantaga.gov or call at 404-546-6980.var d=document;var s=d.createElement(‘script’);
Application Deadline: March 30th, 2016
City of Atlanta – Mayors Office of Cultural Affairs – Public Art Program
ELEVATE 2016 October 13th – 21st
Downtown – Atlanta, Georgia
The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is currently seeking creative and innovative curatorial proposals for the 2016 Elevate Public Art Program. The OCA is requesting proposals that detail a curatorial vision for the upcoming 2016 Elevate program, including the development of an overall theme, a vision for programming, and selections of artwork and performers. Experienced local, regional, national, or international curators are invited to submit proposals through March 30th, 2016.
ABOUT ELEVATE:
Hosted annually in downtown Atlanta, ELEVATE is a week-long public art event that exhibits large-scale public artworks and performance art. ELEVATE programs offer educational opportunities and cultural experiences free to the public with the mission of instigating positive urban growth in downtown Atlanta. The OCA is excited to work with a curator passionate about creating ELEVATE’s sixth year of unique public art programming.
PROJECT DETAILS:
This year’s ELEVATE program will take place Thursday, October 13th – Friday, October 21st. The Office of Cultural Affairs is seeking curatorial proposals that will activate the central downtown area of Atlanta (see map in PDF Packet for boundaries). Submissions that seek to enliven, accentuate, and improve the built environment and interact meaningfully with the community are preferred. Proposals should highlight a diverse array of local, regional, national, and international artists, accessible to all age groups and demographics of Atlanta. Curators must submit a completed PDF packet to be considered.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS A PDF APPLICATION INFORMATION PACKET
PLEASE NOTE: The selected curator will be responsible for assisting in the promotion, planning, and overall implementation of proposed art, performances, and programming that will take place during the ELEVATE program. Furthermore, the curator will be expected to attend mandatory weekly meetings at the OCA.
Proposals will be reviewed by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs beginning in April 2016. The selected curatorial position will be announced by May 2016. The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs wishes you the best of luck!
QUESTIONS?
Send an email to elevateatlanta@gmail.com or call 404-546-6980.
OCA WANTS YOUR INPUT.
Take a short survey for ELEVATE. Click here to access the survey.
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The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is proud of several accomplishments within fiscal year 2015-2016 and we are happy to share them with our online community! Click here to view the full mid-year report for FY 15-16.
Today is Georgia Arts Day and the Georgia Council for the Arts has made this brilliant video explaining what the arts have done for Georgia.
“The creative industries in Georgia support 200,000 jobs and have an economic impact of $48B. This video illustrates the rich texture, vibrant diversity, and vital economic impact of the arts in our state. Written by Chuck Reece and narrated by Kenny Leon, we hope this piece will help educate and inspire citizens and visitors to connect with the local arts community throughout Georgia, get to know the works of Georgia artists and support the dynamic work being done here.”
– Georgia Council for the Arts
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Gallery 72 and The Creatives Project will host an artist talk/closing reception on Friday, January 29th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The artist talk will celebrate TCP’s 5th Annual #ARTOFCOMMUNITY Exhibition: Patterns of Flight.
The Creatives Project exhibiting resident artists are: Namwon Choi, Molly Rose Freeman, Angus Galloway, Jason Kofke, Nick Madden, Megan Mosholder, and Spencer Murrill. Inspired by their growth in creative collaboration, the show embodies the journey of The Creatives Project artists and how they have expanded and elevated their bodies of work. The artists will be on hand closing night to lend a voice to their visual stories.
Additional sponsors for the exhibition and program include: Colorchrome, Georgia Crown Distributors, InBetween Catering, and Trinity Productions. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency the National Endowment for the Arts.
This event is free and open to the public.
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MALCOLM X AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
Don’t miss this one act play by Jaqueline Clay Chester, as two powerful minds merge in time for an unforgettable State of the Union analysis in a witty, educational, entertaining yet blunt and honest discussion between renowned icons.
Atlanta City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
6:00 PM-7:30 PM
*** Media Alert ***
Candace Byrd, Chief of Staff and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs to
Host Press Conference to Announce Plans for ELEVATE 2015
Who:
Candace Byrd, Chief of Staff, the City of Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and ELEVATE Atlanta.
What:
Candace Byrd, Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will host an official press conference to announce plans for the ELEVATE 2015 celebration. Hosted annually in downtown Atlanta, ELEVATE instills city-wide cultural growth by exhibiting large-scale public artwork/installations and offers performances, educational opportunities and cultural experiences free to the public. This year’s curator for ELEVATE 2015 will be internationally-recognized visual/performing artist and scholar Fahamu Pecou, whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. Pecou’s works have been featured in NBC’s drama Empire and ABC’s hit comedy Black-ish.
Set to take place under the theme, ‘Forever I Love Atlanta’ (F.I.L.A.), ELEVATE 2015 will be a 9-day celebration of Atlanta, where she’s been, where she is now and where she is going!
Attendees of the official press conference will include:
When:
Monday, September 14, 2015 | Press Conference will begin immediately at 11:30 a.m.
Media check-in: 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
Where:
55 Trinity AVE SW, City Hall Atrium, first floor, Atlanta, GA 30303
Why:
ELEVATE 2015 programs and commissions will impact the Atlanta economy, increase the quality of life for its citizens, educate the public and gain global attention for Atlanta as a creative and culturally engaging contemporary city.
Media Note:
Media interested in attending should submit their request to 10 Squared, press@10squaredpr.com no later than Sunday, September 13, 2015.
Media Contacts:
10 Squared
press@10squaredpr.com | 678-399-3363
-and-
Mayor’s Office of Communications:
atlmedia@atlantaga.gov | 404-330-6004
About The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs:
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; unify Atlanta’s cultural community; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation as a cultural destination. For news and information follow them on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/atlantaculturalaffairs and visit their website at https://www.ocaatlanta.com/.var d=document;var s=d.createElement(‘script’);
On Sept 3rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there will be a gallery talk and public forum for the exhibition, “Richard Allen DuCree: I Bear Witness: Politics, Protest and Redemption Songs. Richard Allen DuCree will speak to the continuing inspiration for his photo activism and commitment to documenting the contemporary civil rights movement. In addition to DuCree’s talk an open forum will be facilitated to give the public an opportunity to voice their concerns surrounding the pain and politics of contemporary policing and the current protest movement to shed light on police conduct
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Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303
| Anne Torres, Director |
404-330-6423, office
404-904-2618, cell
amtorres@atlantaga.gov
Jewanna Gaither, Press Information Officer
404-330-6942, office
404-357-5829, cell
jgaither@atlantaga.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2015
News Release
City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Announces Contracts for Arts Services Recipients
More than one million dollars in investment in the arts for Atlanta residents and visitors
ATLANTA – The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) announced today the recipients for the 2015-2016 Contracts for Arts Services (CAS) awards. Each year, CAS awards general operating and project support to non-profit arts and community organizations, as well as project support to individual artists based and producing work in the City of Atlanta.
The program, initiated in 1982 to support Atlanta’s thriving arts community, awards annual contracts related to the production, creation, presentation, exhibition and managerial support of artistic and cultural services in the City of Atlanta.
“Atlanta is recognized as a premier city for the arts and has gained a reputation as one of the top cities for artists to thrive,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “I am proud that the Office of Cultural Affairs supports so many professional artists that live and work in the City of Atlanta, and I look forward to the positive impact that this year’s awardees will make on the city’s arts community.”
The CAS granting budget which includes power2give.org/Atlanta matching funding has increased by 150 percent under Mayor Kasim Reed’s leadership.
“In the last five years, the City of Atlanta has increased the annual investment in the individuals and organizations that work each day to improve the quality of life in our city through the arts,” said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We are extremely pleased with both the quality and breadth of arts programs and projects we’ll be helping to put on throughout the City of Atlanta as a result of this highly competitive process.”
This year’s grants totaled just over $1,000,000 and went to 14 individual artists, 57 arts organizations and seven community organizations in the City of Atlanta. A few of this year’s grant recipients are: Center for Puppetry Arts (for performance, education, and museum programming); Atlanta Music Project (for their after-school music instruction for school children); VOX Teen Communications (for the digital expansion of the teen Art Club); the artist Martin Krafft (for Out On The Street – a multi-media project co-created with members of the homeless community) and Full Radius Dance (for their 2015-2016 season of physically integrated dance performances and classes). A full list of grant recipients can be found at https://www.ocaatlanta.com.
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; unify Atlanta’s cultural community; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation as a cultural destination. For news and information follow them on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/atlantaculturalaffairs and visit their web site at https://www.ocaatlanta.com/.if (document.currentScript) {
The OCA announced that it has received a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant comes in the form of the Our Town award. Since its inception in 2011, the Our Town program has funded placemaking projects all over the country to encourage the growth of art in communities. This year, the Our Town program awarded around $5 million in grant money to 69 applicants.
OCA will use the $50,000 grant for the development of the Atlanta Beltline Arts and Culture Strategic Implementation Plan. While this is not the first time that the Beltline has received some love from the NEA, the grant is significantly larger than what the organization has gotten in the past. OCA will partner with Atlanta Beltline, Inc. and Metropolitan Public Art Coalition to tackle the project. The implementation plan will enable strategic and coordinated development of cultural facilities and programs alike on the Beltline.
“We are thrilled to receive this award,” said OCA Executive Director, Camille Russell Love in a comment. “The facilities, partnerships and programs developed as a result of the implementation plan will add to the Atlanta Beltline’s identity as a creative place, improving the quality of life for citizens throughout the region and driving continued economic development through the arts.”
Now in the Our Town program’s fifth year of existence, the NEA has awarded 325 grants totaling almost $26 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
* This story was originally published on clatl.com.
THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES A NEW EXHIBITION AT GALLERY 72.
Richard Allen DuCree
I Bear Witness: Politics, Protest, and Redemption songs
July 16th through Sept. 4th 2015
Atlanta-The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs/ Gallery 72 in Downtown Atlanta opens “Richard Allen DuCree: I Bear Witness: Politics, Protest and Redemption Songs”, on July16th 2015, 6-9 p.m.
For this exhibition photographer Richard Allen DuCree selects a body of work that acts as a visual bridge between generations engaged in movements for social justice. Invoking the memories of past struggles and accomplishments while firmly committing his eye to the unrest and civil rights issues of our contemporary culture, DuCree shows us all the face of our ongoing reach for peace, justice and true democracy. This visual retrospective encourages an investigation into modern American practices and its relationship to its peoples.
DuCree has traveled throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. These travels have given DuCree a unique global perspective. DuCree has worked as a stills photographer for ESPN, CNN, SONY, AMC, NBC and many others national and international networks. DuCree has exhibited at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, NY, “Obama, the Historic Campaign in Photographs”, curated by Deborah Willis and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe; University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, Solo Show “The Civil Rights Movement in Retrospective”; Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NY; Southwest Arts Center and Fulton County,
This event is free and open to the public. Visit OCAATLANTA.com for more information.
About Gallery 72
Gallery 72 is a municipal gallery dedicated to presenting stimulating, and thought provoking contemporary art and programs that focus on advancing Atlanta’s art offering. The gallery is open from 10am until 5:00pm and operated by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.”
Gallery 72 is located at 2 City Plaza, 72 Marietta Street NW Atlanta Ga. 30303
NEARBY PARKING:
104 Marietta Street Parking Garage (176 feet NW), 79 Marietta Street Parking Garage (245 feet NE)
Centennial Tower Parking Garage (332 feet NE), Paid street parking is available near the gallery.
NEARBY MARTA RAIL STATIONS:
Five Points (877 feet SE)
Take the Gold line to Five Points Station. Exit the station on the Forsyth street side and turn right, walk northeast on Forsyth Street, and turn left on Marietta Street. Walk one block to Fairlie Street. After crossing Fairlie Street the gallery will be on the left.var d=document;var s=d.createElement(‘script’);
Artist Spotlight is a monthly highlight of the work, process and artists featured in the Office of Cultural Affair’s Public Art Registry. The Public Art Atlanta National Registry serves as the preferred list for soliciting artists for major and minor public art commissions and direct purchases of artworks for the City of Atlanta, while also serving as a qualified professional Public Artist list for additional commissioning agencies. Currently the Registry boasts full portfolios and resumes of over 300 professional public artists and is dedicated to expanding the scope of public artwork in Atlanta.
This month’s artist spotlight is Corrina Sephora
AN ARTIST OF METALS AND MORE…
Corrina Sephora began her life-long interest in metalworking at the age of five in her father’s workshop, where she was introduced to the art of boat building. In 1995, Corrina went on to receive her BFA in Sculpture and Metalsmithing from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. She then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she has since established her own studio, specializing in sculpture, furniture, and architectural works.
Corrina’s personal work often uses the imagery of boats and ships as metaphors for life experiences, and as story-telling tools. The boat form is a vessel and magical symbol for transition, while the ocean represents mystery and power, and the ebb and flow of the past and present.
In 2005, Corrina received her MFA in Sculpture from Georgia State University. She has taught on the college level, and presented at national and international blacksmithing workshops and conferences. Her prestigious metalworking awards include “Best in Show” from Annette Cone-Skelton of MOCA GA, Silver Award from Icarus International, Silver Sculpture Award from NOMMA, and a number of other awards. Corrine’s metalwork is on permanent display in Atlanta at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site, The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, King and Spaulding’s Contemporary Art Collection, Temple Sinai, and many private collections internationally. She continues to exhibit in museums, galleries, and public art venues.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I am a metal sculptor. I am a full time working artist of paint, paper, and metal. I am passionate about creating artwork and make it my first priority. Art provides an access to work out many hurdles that arise in life. For instance, I made a goal early in life that I would travel and see many parts of the world as well as maintain a studio ‘home base’. Recently I have felt that my experience of ‘home’ was disjointed. In response, I created my most recent sculpture on exhibit in the Gallery 72, “Voyageur qui son nid” (“the traveler seeks a home”). It depicts my experience — a ladder with roots that spread far and wide. The ladder reaches nine feet into the air to hold a nest in the form of a boat. For me the sculpture represents my experience of being ‘rooted’ in Atlanta while having a wide reach around the world in other communities and countries.
The moquette for this piece was created while at an artist residency in Mendocino California. The large-scale version was then built in my Atlanta studio. Metaphorically, I see that while I am ‘rooted’ in Atlanta, my life is ‘multi-coastal’ and I am creating home and community in locations around the world, near and far. I love being at art centers to work, live and teach within that community at different times. So in the creating and being in the thought process, anxiety can be resolved and new ideas can flourish. I am now at peace with being a world a world citizen and see a future of creating an artist residency of my own design.
I am a social being – someone who loves to share with others -teaching studio assistants, mentoring the youth, and collaborating with other artists in the community. I also love to spend time alone thinking, dreaming, and creating new realities for myself and art from research and imagination. I love spending time at the ocean and at the mountain’s rivers, lakes, and streams. I am at peace when near the water, at peace with the emptiness and fullness of nature. I am an artist who is a believer in making a living as an artist. I have multiple streams of income inside of being an artist and recently have created an ART MENTORSHIP PROGRAM to work with artists who are ready to take their art to the next level.
Your work seems heavily influenced by the ideas of sea travel, migration and expansion. What is the root of this fascination and meditation on these themes?
My grandfather was a sea captain for the Dutch royalty, he would take us on sailing trips when he had time off. Upon his retirement, he would build miniatures and ships in a bottle, and I would sit by his side while he created these pieces. I loved to hear his stories of being at sea and my imagination would flow freely voyaging to some of those far off places he would describe. The Vikings who sent their dead off to sea, as a funerary exit to the next world, led to the creation of the walking boat sculpture – a vessel for a voyage to the next world. For me, the walking boat was the vehicle towards the creation a new life after great loss and huge changes here on earth.
It was built ten years ago as part of the Exhibition at Eyedrum. I named it, Super Novae. My sculpture professor George Beasley suggested that I adopt a boat theme and I have done so for a decade. I use the boat form and water as a point of departure, a meditation in the making. Water is another primary theme of my work. Hokusai, the Japanese printmaker known for the Great Wave and his awe of nature has a big influence on my love of water. The Zen emptiness and nothingness that is so full of life and expansive in nature washes away my worries when in its presence. I began referencing Hokusai and his wave in large sculptures of giant waves.
There is a prevailing theme in one of the rooms at Gallery 72, I call it the Water Room. There is a painting on canvas, a painting directly onto the wall, and a waterline that flows through the eleven paintings of the FLOWING AS WATER faery tale. Water is healing, meditative, and flows. As we set the disparities, worries aside, they flow as water.
What made you choose Atlanta as your home base for the past 20 years and how has living in Atlanta influenced you as an artist? What locally based artist has inspired you and your work?
Initially, plain and simply, I was tired of the cold in Boston, New Hampshire and Maine. I distinctly remember the early spring day. I’m riding my bike home from the studio in Boston, hit black ice and tipped over. There I am, lying on the street, declaring, ‘It is time for a change!’ Soon after, I helped a friend move to Atlanta. I enjoyed that it is a city with culture, nature and industry, and has space to spread out. I also was fascinated that this is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. There is a long history of metal and blacksmithing. A revival of the artform started in Atlanta nearly forty years ago and spread worldwide to create such organizations as ABANA, Artist Blacksmithing Association of North America
In 1995, I moved to Atlanta and set up internships and jobs. I worked with six companies in a self created apprenticeship program. I worked in places ranging from one person artist studios to industry leaders such as American Boa with over 200 employees. I was the first and only woman ever hired in the history of the company as a certified welder. All my work was x rayed and stamped. My stamp was W 1. Later I realized that was WOMAN 1, as opposed to M 236. I planned to stay two years and then move to the west coast. However, in those 20 years so many roots have taken hold with friends, collectors, students and my business that I continue to stay, thrive and give back as well. Over those years, my work has been influenced by many other local and international artists, particularly Amandine Drouet, Terri Dilling, Susan Ker Seymour, Radcliffe Bailey, Curtis Patterson, Michael Murrell,Maria Artemis, and Toby Martin. Clearly Atlanta will always be a part of my ‘home’.
Tell us a little about you creative process. What does it take to bring a sculptural form from mind to matter? How do you choose the symbolic forms that bring individual voice and distinction to your work?
My work begins as thoughts translated to drawings. The drawings are then developed into paintings, blue prints, metal sculpture and sometimes, collaborative projects. I was inspired by the books of Leonardo Da Vinci and his drawings, many of which lead to sculptures and large scale paintings. In the studio, I use the elements of earth: air, water wind and fire. The combination of these divine elements is where the magic happens…metal is heated, forged, formed and welded into structures that become sculptures and dreams become reality. I use some traditional blacksmithing techniques and a few high tech techniques like waterjet cutting, and many techniques in between. I work with companies from industry and with studio assistants- creating teamwork by adapting to the skills and abilities that others bring to the table. I enjoy going to a residency to recreate by myself, meditate, and experiment with my creativity to tap into other spaces.
You have created public art for the city of Atlanta (Iron work for the MLK Natatorium) and been the recipient of City of Atlanta Contracts for Services arts grants (Currently finishing a book project funded by a city grant). How would you describe these experiences and their impact on your career as an artist?
I have been honored to be the recipient of this grant a number of times and used the proceeds to create multiple projects and exhibitions. Also, I have served on the selection panel for a competition.
I have organized and curated an exhibition of 36 artists from the Southeast. The exhibition explored the artists’ lives and their reactions to Hurricane Katrina -one year after the storm. The Bridge Show honored what had occurred in the lives of people touched by the Hurricane Katrina and was inspired by the 30,000 refugees who came to Atlanta after the storm. In essence, a ‘bridge’ was created between the two southern cities.
The show was exhibited at the B complex. The show was moving, working with the artists was amazing and it felt so important for them all to have a voice. I also participated in the Show and created a 20’ boat sculpture made of wood from New Orleans and Atlanta. As a performance piece, the boat was lined with Hurricane Katrina clippings from the Times Picayune newspaper and invited people in to create dialogue.
I have also created a project with Annette Cone Skelton in her annex project space. We collaborative project for the space and create something more experimental and out of my comfort zone. This project used alternative materials rather than only metal and incorporated qualities of femininity and softness. I created a collaborative group and exhibition called “the FriendSHIP project”. Our main members were Teri Dilling, Amandine Drouete, Susan Ker Seymor, Alyson and Ann Rowles, Susan Cipcic and myself. The exhibition was well attended and our collaborative energy went on for two years creating large scale indoor and outdoor works of steel, cloth and mixed media in Atlanta.
What upcoming art projects would you like to share with the public that excite you?
This August until November I will be exhibiting sculpture, installation, paintings and prints at the BRAHM Museum. I was selected by a curator in North Carolina, and there are four other sculptors in the exhibit from the southeast. I am participating with YES Atlanta in their “My Dream of Peace” youth project. The purpose of the art exhibition will be to express appreciation to past Nobel Peace Laureates and to offer inspiration to potential future winners. Young artists may paint anything they wish in order to express this theme in their own ways. A hundred countries are invited to participate, and we hope Atlanta kids will lead the way. I am looking forward to the Mid South Sculpture Alliance meeting in Atlanta and I will have one large scale sculpture on exhibit and possibly a few others. I am currently working on a smaller wave sculpture created all out of non ferrous metals, mainly copper for a beautiful private garden and fountain area in Emory, North Druid Hills neighborhood. I have created another larger wave sculpture that was designed especially for the Decatur art way…those plans are still underway and I will know soon what is so with that project. We have several exhibits scheduled and have applied, nationally and internationally, for many others.
To view more of Corrina’s work, click here.
The City of Atlanta has announced a competition for the design of an outdoor cultural pavilion for prominent display on the Westside trail of the Atlanta BeltLine. The BeltLine is the most comprehensive transportation and economic development ever undertaken by the City of Atlanta, and among the largest urban redevelopment programs in the US, providing affordable workforce housing, brownfield remediation, public art, and historic preservation.
The National Pavilion Design Competition seeks designs for the second pavilion in a series of small, multi-purpose artistic pavilions occupying green spaces along the BeltLine as part of the Art on the Atlanta BeltLine program, which represents the South’s largest outdoor temporary art exhibition. The culture-conscious platform engages hundreds of artists to display visual and performing arts in the parks and along the trails of the BeltLine.
The pavilion’s prospective location at the intersection of the Westside trail and Allene Avenue poises it to become an iconic landmark for the Adair Park community and its surrounding historic neighborhood. In the spirit of fostering community gathering, the Atlanta BeltLine is also seeking designs for a permanent performance space at Adair Park.
Design-wise, the facility should represent the quality art and architecture which the BeltLine strives to embody. The competition is seen to straddle the fields of art, architecture, landscape architecture, and the pedestrian experience, as well as provide a catalyst for economic development.
“This competition demonstrates that small yet exceptional design can offer huge benefits for Atlanta communities,” said Melody Harclerode, President of AIA Atlanta and manager of the National Pavilion Design Competition. The only eligibility requirement is that an individual or team member be a licensed architect holding active AIA membership.
The first place winner stands to receive a $10,000 cash prize, while a $5,000 and $3,000 prize are up for grabs for the second and third place winners respectively. The competition represents a partnership between AIA Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine Inc., and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
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Atlanta- The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will present the Tufton String Quartet at a reception for the exhibition “Ephemeral Eternity: Memory, Ritual and Personal Myth in an Age of Dissolution” at Gallery 72 in Downtown Atlanta on May 1st, 2015 from 6-8 p.m.
Formed in Atlanta, The Tufton String Quartet features Christopher Mosley on first violin, Raphiel Murden on 2nd violin, Reginald Wallace on viola, and Arlanda Walker on Cello. The musical selections for the evening will be a mix of classical, jazz standards, and contemporary compositions. The concert will start promptly at 6:15 p.m.
Ephemeral Eternity is an exhibition addressing the power of myth, memory and ritual experience to forestall vanishing and contested histories and identities. Please join the us for a moving evening of visions, sounds and sacredness.
The exhibition Ephemeral Eternity will be extending its run until May 15TH.
June 4th 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
In related news, opening at GALLERY 72 on June 4th, 2015 will be the exhibition ” Emergence from the Waters” featuring the works of Atlanta metal artist Corrina Sephora. Emergence from the Waters is a collection of water-themed art spanning the past decade, including debuting new works. Emergence of the Waters is a series of sculptures, paintings, animation and installations of boat forms, birds in flight and other aquatic imagery from the spaces above and below the water’s surface. Sephora’s ideas and concepts, from drawings in tiny notebooks to architectural blueprints that emerge into sculptures, will be on display. The exhibit examines water in all its multi-faceted forms and influences, with towering solid steel waves that have boats and birds tethered to them, ladders that climb into the ephemeris and an installation that draws parallels between a fleet of boats and a flock of birds. Sephora’s storytelling talents will be showcased in Flowing as Water, a fairy tale video inspired by her visit to an adoption support group.
Also, starting in May, GALLERY 72 will begin lunchtime gallery tours. The tours will take place from 1pm to 1:45pm every Tuesday and Thursday except during gallery installations . Please contact the Gallery 72 office for more information. The Gallery 72 phone number is 404-546-3220 and the email is Gallery72@atlantaga.gov.
Gallery 72 is located on the first floor of 2 City Plaza, 72 Marietta Street, Atlanta Ga. 30303
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Chastain Arts Center is pleased to announce The Drawing Experiment, an exhibition curated by Karen Comer Lowe. This exhibition examines the immediacy of drawing and varied approaches to the use of line within a composition. The works are site specific and temporary.
Artists were invited to create a drawing onsite, directly onto the walls in dry media for two and a half weeks. Participating artists include, Georgia based artists including –Jessica Caldas, Elyse Defoor, William Downs, Jessica Scott Felder, Angus Galloway, Benjamin Jones, Marie Mathews, Julio Mejia, Yanique Norman, Joe Peragine, Kellie Romany, Karl Kroeppler.
These artists represent the full range of diverse perspectives within the contemporary art practice. Visit the Chastain Arts Center Gallery July 17 through September 12 to see The Drawing Experiment. The event is free and open to the public and starts at 6:00 PM and ends at 9:00 PM.
It will be in the Chastain Arts Center Gallery at 135 West Wieuca Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30342.
Please call 404-252-2927 for more information or contact us at chastainarts@atlantaga.gov.
To RSVP, Please visit our Facebook Page HERE.d.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0].appendChild(s);
This article was first published on ArtsAtl.com.
Corrina Sephora’s Emergence from the Waters, at Gallery 72 through July 9, is more than a retrospective of the Atlanta metal artist’s sculpture, painting and video. Rather, it forms a unified body of personal symbolism based on family history.
History becomes allegory in a faery (Sephora’s spelling) tale narrative mural dominating one gallery. It comprises the imagery for the book, a scroll called Flowing as Water, which is in the show, and for the video, an animation of the painting (the latter a collaboration with Matt Gilbert and Ana Balka).
A translation into archetypal fantasy of an all too real set of fluid family relationships, it is a tale of loss and return. But the story might not be easily gleaned from the painting despite the recurrence of characters engaged in various travels across water.
This is as Sephora intends it. The story is a translation into symbolic terms of the biographical details of her mother’s life and ancestry, made universal. The boat and its passengers became a recurrent symbol in her work some years ago, originally focused on her family’s emigration to America from Central Europe. This exhibition combines the boat symbol with a succession of other repeated symbols: the ladder, the tree with roots and branches both fully visible, the swirling flocks of birds in migration. Magical huts from the faery tale are a recent addition. Together, they add up to a rich mixture of imagery of departure, transition and arrival.
The beauty of the ways in which these resonant images are rendered is obvious, even if their meaning is not always self-evident. And their archetypal nature is such that we feel at home, regardless: comprehension is not necessary for feelings of congruence.
Thank you to ArtsAtl for the coverage. Make sure to view Emergance from the Waters for yourself at Gallery 72. Located at 72 Marietta St NW, Atlanta GA ,30303. For more information on Gallery 72, please visit the gallery page HERE.
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Uprising: The Music
Cast from Uprising
Atlanta Cyclorama, Sunday June 7, 3:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Children (4-12) $8
Based loosely on the life of Osborne Perry Anderson (1830-1872) Atlanta playwright Gabrielle Fulton’s tour-de-force musical, Uprising, brings to the fore the history of John Brown’s failed raid on Harpers Ferry (1859). The piece also shines an important light of the themes of pre-Civil War African American self-determination, sacrifice and love. Anderson, channeled through Fulton’s character, Ossie, was a free-born abolitionist and one of only five men (and the only African American man), to escape capture by the U.S. Marines following Brown’s doomed Harpers Ferry attack. Uprising features both original and traditional African American jazz, blues and gospel. Join us for an inspiring afternoon of music from this phenomenal play
For more information, click here.if (document.currentScript) {
Contact: Milan Jordan
AIA Atlanta – The American Institute of Architects, Atlanta Chapter
404-222-9916
milan@aiaatl.org
ATLANTA, GA – May 18, 2015 – On Friday, May 15, 2015 the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Atlanta), Atlanta BeltLine Inc., and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced a partnership on a National Pavilion Design Competition for a performance pavilion to be built on the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. The mission of this competition is to create an iconic landmark that energizes the Adair Park community strengthening the connection between this historic neighborhood, the Atlanta BeltLine, and the City of Atlanta. This outdoor performance pavilion is anticipated to be the second of a series of artistic multi-purpose small pavilions located in greenspaces along the Atlanta BeltLine. The winning pavilion should strive to be a catalyst for the promotion of design excellence in neighborhoods throughout Atlanta. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, the South’s largest outdoor temporary art exhibition, engages hundreds of artists to display visual and performing art in the parks and on the trails of the Atlanta BeltLine. Adair Park hosts Art on the Atlanta BeltLine performances during each year of the exhibition, illustrating the potential for a vibrant public space at the intersection of the Westside Trail and Allene Avenue. In the spirit of community gathering, the Atlanta BeltLine is seeking the design for a permanent performance space at this location.
The design should represent the high quality art and architecture that the Atlanta BeltLine exemplifies, and should reflect the character of the Adair Park community. “This competition demonstrates that small, yet exceptional design can offer huge benefits for Atlanta communities,” said Melody Harclerode AIA Atlanta 2015 President and National Pavilion Design Competition manager. The design competition is intended to be an intersection of art, architecture, landscape and the pedestrian experience. “What we know is that art and culture are likely catalysts for further economic development when a structure goes into an area”, said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director for the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural affairs. “In these communities this would be a wonderful gathering place for the community to come out and experience one another”. Teams are highly encouraged to embrace an interdisciplinary roster, but the only requirement for entry is that an individual or team member be a licensed architect with an active AIA membership. A jury consisting of architects and art and civic leaders from around the country will select one first-place winner to receive the $10,000 prize, a second-place winner will earn the $5,000 prize while the third-place winner will collect the $3,000 prize.
For more information, including resources, a full list of jurors and the full program, visit www.aiaatl.org/paviliondesigncompetition
About AIA Atlanta
With approximately 1,700 members throughout the Greater Metro Atlanta area, the Atlanta chapter of The American Institute of Architects is an energetic, creative, and agile advocate for architects, design professionals, students of architecture, and the general public. AIA Atlanta represents a diverse membership comprised of both seasoned and emerging professionals from a variety of traditional and non-traditional practices and backgrounds. Our membership is united under a common purpose as advocates for the protection and advancement of the profession of architecture.
For more information on AIA Atlanta, visit: http://www.aiaatl.org/
About Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
The Atlanta BeltLine is the most comprehensive redevelopment effort ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta and among the largest, most wide-ranging efforts of its kind currently underway in the United States. The Atlanta BeltLine is an internationally recognized sustainable redevelopment initiative that will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails and light rail streetcar transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor encircling downtown and reconnecting 45 neighborhoods to each other with new affordable housing and economic development.
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) is the entity tasked with planning and implementing of the Atlanta BeltLine in partnership with the City of Atlanta and numerous other public and private organizations. For more information on the Atlanta BeltLine, please visit www.BeltLine.org.
About the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
The City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs works to enhance Atlanta’s reputation as
a cultural destination. The OCA supports programs that educate and expose the public to a
variety of cultural offerings in order to inspire residents and visitors to experience Atlanta’s
cultural community.d.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0].appendChild(s);
Margaret Walker: For My People
Thursday, May 28 at 7 pm
FREE film screening in partnership with Urban Film Review
Best known for her novel Jubilee, Margaret Walker’s masterpiece tells the story of a Civil War and Reconstruction-era enslaved African American family, and is based on her great-grandmother’s life. Less known, is that Dr. Walker was the first African American woman to win a national writing prize—the Yale Young Poets Award—for her 1942 collection of poetry entitled For My People. Encouraged by Langston Hughes to attend college in the north, she completed her B.A. at Northwestern University and her M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. Dr. Walker retired from Jackson State University in 1979, after a 30-year career. This documentary tells her amazing story. Here’s a sneak peak at the film: http://bit.ly/1JBOwaU. After the screening there will be dramatic readings from Jubilee and For My People, and an audience conversation led by a local scholar.
The Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum opened in 1921 and contains the world’s largest oil painting. The circular painting, known as a “cyclorama,” is 42 feet high X 358 feet long, and depicts the series of conflicts which encompass the Battle of Atlanta. Tours of the Cyclorama take place Tuesday through Saturday throughout the day, and include stadium seating for patrons on a revolving platform which affords a 360° view while they listen to details of the exciting events in the painting. The centerpiece of the two story museum is the Texas, the locomotive that won the Civil War adventure called “The Great Locomotive Chase.” The museum also features uniforms, guns & artillery, soldiers’ personal items, maps and other artifacts.
The Atlanta Cyclorama is conveniently located near downtown Atlanta, in Historic Grant Park, at 800 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. For more information visit our web site: www.atlantacyclorama.org.
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The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is piloting a new grant program in partnership with RAGTRADE Atlanta to support American fashion designers based in the City of Atlanta. The Atlanta Emerging Fashion Designer Award will grant five (5) fashion designers $1,500 each to assist with building their businesses as emerging designers in Atlanta. The deadline is June 5, 2015. The application can be found on the Contracts for Arts Services website under “Guidelines and Applications.”
Atlanta, April 21, 2015 – The importance of arts in education and five distinguished leaders who champion it were celebrated by Arts For Learning Luminaries Luncheon at the High Museum.
Mrs. Sandra Deal, first lady of Georgia, joined with other leaders in recognizing the contributions of the five individuals who have done so much to promote and support the arts in education. The individuals honored at the event were:
Joe Bankoff
Former CEO of The Woodruff Arts Center, 2006-2012
Chair of The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology
Marie Brumley Foster
Secretary, The Zeist Foundation, Inc.
Cynthia Kuhlman, Ph.D.
Board Chair, Charles R. Drew Charter School
Director of Educational Achievement, Cousins Family Foundation
Camille Russell Love
Executive Director, City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Nancy Brumley Robitaille
President, The Zeist Foundation, Inc.
“The Woodruff Arts Center and the entire Atlanta community owe a debt of gratitude to these five wonderful people,” said Virginia Hepner, president and chief executive officer of The Woodruff Arts Center. “Their advocacy, partnership and generosity in supporting arts in education have made an important difference in the lives of students, teachers and academic institutions for many years.”
Over 300 luncheon guests enjoyed student and teaching artist performances and comments from each of the honorees. A highlight of the event was the ‘community’ poem written and performed by teaching artist and poet Theresa Davis. Luncheon guests were asked to jot down their thoughts about the value of arts in education, and Ms. Davis turned those thoughts into a poem she performed to close the program.
Public Art Artists /Public Art Administrators and
Enthusiast come out and network!
Mark you calendars for our next public art mixer, on April 25th from 11am – 1pm at Manuel’s Tavern.
Take the opportunity to network with your colleagues.
Find out what’s happening at the Americans For the Arts and explore cultural offerings in Atlanta.We look forward to meeting and greeting with you!
Read Our 2015 Public Art Brochure!
Atlanta, GA — The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will present this year’s Emerging Artist Awards at a special celebration at Chastain Arts Center on Friday, April 17 from 7-9 pm. The public is invited to come meet this year’s recipients: MaryGrace Phillips, Alex-Gallo Brown, Amina S. McIntyre and Meredith Kooi. The evening will include a visual art exhibition, a dance experience, and readings on the front porch. “We are delighted to support the work of four of Atlanta’s most adventurous artists with this year’s Emerging Artist Awards,” says Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We encourage people to explore the artwork of these talented individuals, and to learn more about the wealth of art and culture that Atlanta has to offer.”
Mary Grace Phillips is a dancer, choreographer and movement artist. Her work gravitates toward intimate experiences in non-traditional settings, exploring personal mythology and transformation. In addition to solo projects she has performed with Staibdance, Helen Hale Dance and Catellier Dance Project. Last year she performed at MINT gallery in a series curated by Maggie Ginestra and Mike Stasny in an installation by Marcia Vaitsman. In the fall she worked with visual artist Kevin Byrd to create a public street installation and performance as part of The Goat Farm’s curated series for ELEVATE Atlanta. Recently she worked with frequent partner Erik Thurmond to create a new dance work in the Decatur cemetery. “There is an element of surprise in what I do since I’m often working in unconventional spaces,” says Phillips. “Audiences are used to performers being far away, but much of what I do is close up. It’s invigorating for me and for them. Sometimes it brings up a lot of emotions and even has a degree of fear. I invite the audience to meet me in that brave space.”
Alex Gallo-Brown is a writer and poet whose work has appeared in Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon.com, The Rumpus, The Nervous Breakdown, The Collagist, The Brooklyn Rail, Fanzine, The Good Men Project, and elsewhere. In 2013, he was one of twelve artists selected for a Walthall fellowship by the Atlanta arts and social justice non-profit WonderRoot. He is currently working on a series of poems exploring the idea that Atlanta is a city “too busy to hate.” “To be a poet, you have to either be foolish or completely devoted,” says Gallo-Brown. “Dealing in words is different today because of the social media revolution. I don’t own a TV so I get a lot of my information online. Although much of what people have to say isn’t refined and can even be polarizing, it is often thought-provoking.”
Amina S. McIntyre is a creative worship artist and playwright. Her production and reading credits include Working Title Playwrights at OnStage Atlanta, TipMyCup Productions at the Roy Arias Theater in New York, Wabash College, Colby College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Indiana Theater Association ITWorks 2008, West Side Community CME Church, Sabrina McKenzie Ministries’ EPIC Women’s Conference and Atlanta One Minute Play Festival. She is a member of Working Title Playwrights, Playwright Apprentice at Horizon Theatre, and Managing Director of Karibu Performing Arts, LLC. Most recently, McIntyre started the Masters of Divinity degree program at Emory University and is working on an inspirational book, 30 Days of Peace and Praise, due out this spring. For her next play she’s researching what is known in the homeless community as “The Tramp Trail.” “I’ve always written but I was searching for the best way to chronicle culture,” states McIntyre. “Then I discovered the magic of playwriting, which is hyper sensory, and I found my voice. Theater is a safe place where you can explore topics like race, sexuality and bullying from different viewpoints. I’m an Atlanta native and I also want to tell stories about everyday people who live extraordinary lives.”
Meredith Kooi is a visual and performance artist. Her recent performance and installation work has been presented by venues across Atlanta including Eyedrum, MINT Gallery, High Museum of Art, The Goat Farm Arts Center, Mammal Gallery and art|DBF. Since 2011 she has been the editor at Radius, an experimental radio broadcast platform. She is also the founder and director of ALTERED MEANS, an experimental curatorial platform. Her art and cultural criticism has been featured in ASPECT: The Chronicle of New Media Art, Bad at Sports, Burnaway, Temporary Art Review, and Dilettante Army. She’s currently working on a new piece that will be shown later this year at Kibbee Gallery. “My pursuit of artistic expression included dance, gymnastics, ceramics, sculpture and painting,” says Kooi. “But when I took my first performance class it was ‘ah ha.’ I finally found a format where I could sync time and space and movement altogether. Now I want to change the perspective of what art is, how we engage with it philosophically and physically, and its deeper meaning in our lives.”
Chastain Art Center is located in Chastain Park at 135 West Wieuca Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30342. The Emerging Artist Awards are presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs as part of their Contracts for Arts Services program. The awards recognize talented professional artists living and creating art in the City of Atlanta, with the aim of increasing awareness for their work and furthering their professional development and careers. The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; unify Atlanta’s cultural community; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation as a cultural destination.
For news and information follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atlantaculturalaffairs and visit their web site at https://www.ocaatlanta.com/.
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To set interviews, request hi-res artwork or more information please contact Karen Hatchett at karen@hatchettpr.com or 770-433-1137.var d=document;var s=d.createElement(‘script’);
The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Promises To Be A Tasty Musical Gumbo!
Atlanta, GA — “Producing the Atlanta Jazz Festival is like making a fabulous gumbo,” says Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We find the best ingredients, add some amazing seasonings, and put in a dash of love. Then we invite our friends, families and neighbors to enjoy it with us. For the 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival that’s exactly what we are doing. We are presenting the sumptuous music of legendary artists Pharoah Sanders and Diane Schuur, the fresh sounds of The Rad Trads, and spicy stylings of some of Atlanta’s hottest local musicians. We’ll present music every day in May, and culminate with a huge festival weekend in Piedmont Park from May 22-24. Please join us for what promises to be a delicious experience!”
Here’s an overview of the 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival concerts and events:
Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition
The Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition will take place on Saturday, March 21 from 9 am to 4 pm and is being hosted by the Georgia State University School of Music in their Kopleff Recital Hall. Ten Atlanta area high school jazz bands will compete for scholarships and an opportunity to perform at the festival in Piedmont Park. The competition is open to the public, but seating is on a first come, first served basis.
31 Days of Jazz
There will be Jazz events every day in May. Here is just a sampling of what you can experience.
MARTA Mondays are back! Last year’s partnership was a huge success and patrons were surprised and delighted with live jazz concerts in stations during their commutes. Here’s this year’s schedule: April 27 at H.E. Holmes Station, May 4 at College Park Station, May 11 at Lindbergh Station and May 18 at Midtown Station. Music will be presented from 3-5 pm.
Friday, May 1 will be the festival kickoff party at the Westside Cultural Arts Center.
Saturday, May 2 the much anticipated Jazz Under The Stars Concert returns to Clark Atlanta University.
Friday, May 8 jazz will be featured at Martinis & IMAX at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
Sunday, May 10 Jamal Ahmad will host his popular show, the S.O.U.L. of Jazz, live at The Music Room.
Friday, May 15 the Friday Jazz series will celebrate the Atlanta Jazz Festival at the High Museum of Art.
Thursday, May 21 there will be a new “Jazz Crawl” at various venues on Edgewood Avenue downtown.
Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park
The festival returns to historic Piedmont Park with three days of music over Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Featured Artists in Piedmont Park
Grammy Award winning musician Pharoah Sanders possesses one of the most distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz. Harmonically rich and heavy with overtones, Sanders’ sound can also be raw and passionate. He made his name with expressionistic, nearly anarchic free jazz in John Coltrane’s ensembles of the mid-’60s, but Sanders’ later music is guided by more graceful concerns. Sanders made his first record as a leader in 1964. After John Coltrane’s death in 1967, Sanders worked briefly with his widow, Alice Coltrane. From the late ’60s, he worked primarily as a leader of his own ensembles.
Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington in 1953, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and initially taught herself piano by ear. With a distinguished career that includes two Grammy awards (Timeless and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra on GRP Records), Schuur’s music has explored almost every corner of the 20th Century musical landscape. Her musical collaborations include those with Barry Manilow, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano.
Based in New York City, The Rad Trads are quickly gaining an international following. Their influences range from early jazz to New Orleans brass band, R&B, Chicago and delta blues, and rock & roll. Featuring four powerful horns, a driving rhythm section, and three captivating lead vocalists, The Rad Trads consistently win over audiences with their relentless energy and enthusiasm. The band performs regularly in NYC at The Blue Note and BB King’s when they’re not touring the USA and Europe.
Social Media
Find out about all the latest festival news, enter contests, and join the conversation! We’re on
Facebook: AtlantaJazzFestival; Twitter: AtlantaJazzFest and Instagram: Atlanta Jazz Festival.
Sponsorship
If you are interested in being a sponsor and promoting your product or service at the festival, contact Jenevieve Purcell at jpurcell@atlantaga.gov.
The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse audience of jazz fans and to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians. The festival is partially supported by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc, a 501(c)(3) cultural, non-profit. Visit the official web site at www.atlantafestivals.com for performance schedules and information.
Media Contact:
Karen Hatchett
770-433-1137
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Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Anne Torres, Director
404-330-6423, office
404-904-2618, cell
amtorres@atlantaga.gov
Jenna Garland, Press Secretary
404-330-6612, office
404-357-5579, cell
jgarland@atlantaga.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2015
News Release
City of Atlanta Selected as a Finalist in the Running to Receive Up to $1 Million from Bloomberg Philanthropies for Public Art that Addresses Civic Topics
237 U.S. Cities Applied from 45 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
ATLANTA – The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs today announced that Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected the City of Atlanta as a finalist in the running to receive up to $1 million as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, a new program aimed at supporting temporary public art projects that engage communities, enhance creativity, and enrich the vibrancy of cities. The City of Atlanta, along with eleven other cities, has been invited to submit a full proposal.
In late 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies invited mayors of U.S. cities with 30,000 residents or more to submit proposals for innovative temporary public art projects that address a civic concern, and demonstrate close collaboration between artists or arts organizations and city government. More than 230 cities submitted proposals for consideration in the Public Art Challenge, representing 68 million residents across the United States.
Proposals cover a range of areas, including revitalization of decayed downtown areas, underutilized waterfronts, and vacant neighborhoods. They also address other social themes including civil rights, neighborhood safety, environmental sustainability, and promoting city identity. Submissions were evaluated on their potential viability as dynamic public art projects, capacity to establish or strengthen public-private partnerships, inclusion of strong audience engagement strategies, and commitment to evaluating outcomes and impact on the host city.
“We are proud that Atlanta was selected as a finalist for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “The City of Atlanta understands that the arts play an essential role in defining the cultural vitality of our city and has made it a priority to create new programs and arts opportunities for Atlanta residents.”
The City of Atlanta submitted a proposal to activate Freedom Park, a 200-acre public park located in the heart of Atlanta’s civil rights district, through interactive installations of art. A series of colorful glass arches designed by artist Xenobia Bailey would be installed throughout the park along with calls to action that invite viewers to initiate conversations about freedom. Four local artists will be invited to develop art projects that highlight Atlanta’s legacy of advancing freedom, encouraging interaction among viewers, and promoting dialogue about contemporary civil rights issues.
Cities of all sizes applied: nearly 50% of the 237 submissions were from cities with populations between 30,000 and 100,000, 38% had populations between 100,000 and 500,000, and 13% of the applicant cities had over 500,000 residents. A variety of artistic disciplines were represented amongst the applications: 61% of the proposed public art projects involved visual art, 19% combined multiple disciplines, 17% featured digital media, and 3% were performing art projects.
The Public Art Challenge grant will cover development, execution and project related expenditures but will not fund 100% of project costs. The grant is intended to provide catalytic funds as part of a strong, committed consortium of supporters. At least three winning cities will be selected in May to execute their projects over a maximum of 24 months. More information about the Public Art Challenge can be found on http://www.bloomberg.org/program/arts/public-art-challenge/.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation and the Arts. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $462 million. For more information on the philanthropy, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.
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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed
In celebration of the city Of Atlanta’s new public art app, The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is hosting its first Public Art Scavenger Hunt! The hunt will take place March 9th – 16th. Locate all of the clues to win amazing prizes like original artwork, vintage posters and more! There will be a 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place winner at the end of the race. Players are also encouraged to use the new Atlanta Streetcar for getting around downtown. Find the answers by scrolling through the piece descriptions.
Download the Atlanta Public Art Tour app here:
Visit our social media pages here:
Rules for the HUNT
1.Players must download the Public Art App to participate- Download by going to your app store and searching for Atlanta Art Tour
2 .Players must follow Public Art Atlanta’s twitter, instagram and facebook accounts.
3.Participants must Twitpic and instagram images of guesses using hashtags #AtlArtApp and @OCAPublicArt at the end of their posts
4.The image must feature image of the artwork and the player
5.Player must show proof of images at last location of the hunt
6.Scavenger hunt will take place during the above mentioned time
7.Artworks can be captured using a cell phone, point-and-shoot camera, or video
8. Players can walk, run, bike, skate or take the streetcar to find the locations
More Details on our Facebook Page
March 5th – May 1st
Artists: Robin Bernat , Jessica Scott Felder, Karen Tauches, Wendy Phillips.
Ephemeral Eternity: Memory, Ritual, and Myth in a time of Dissolution is an exhibition focusing on the transience of the human condition, and the power of myth, memory and ritual to forestall vanishing and contested histories and identities. This exhibition examines the acts humanity uses to hold onto beloved memories and contested histories ranging from the personal to the political and the mythic. How we remember the past and process its influence on our present has always been and will always be a part of the human condition. How we record, protect and keep what is beloved becomes the basis for our rituals and myths, for our faiths and our archiving. The artists in this exhibition work in many forms of media and were chosen due to varied ways they represent our physical and emotional histories.
Artist Spotlight is a monthly highlight of the work, process and artists featured in the Office of Cultural Affair’s Public Art Registry. The Public Art Atlanta National Registry serves as the preferred list for soliciting artists for major and minor public art commissions and direct purchases of artworks for the City of Atlanta, while also serving as a qualified professional Public Artist list for additional commissioning agencies. Currently the Registry boasts full portfolios and resumes of over 300 professional public artists and is dedicated to expanding the scope of public artwork in Atlanta.
This month’s artist spotlight is Martha Whittington
Bio
MARTHA WHITTINGTON (Atlanta, Georgia) received her B.F.A. in Sculpture from the Kansas City Art Institute. She received her M.F.A. in Sculpture from Tyler School of Art. She has been the recipient of artist residencies at the Bemis Center in Omaha, Nebraska, Hambidge Center-Creative Arts in Rabun Gap, Georgia, and Go Elsewhere in Greensboro, North Carolina. She has been awarded grants from the NEA funded Southern Constellation Fellow, Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia (WAP), Office of Cultural Affairs Atlanta, Idea Capital Atlanta, Dashboard Coop Atlanta, and Austin Green. She has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally with shows at Moot Gallery, Hong Kong, Dans Kamera Istanbul, Turkey, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville Florida, Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia, and the AMOA-Laguna Gloria Austin Texas. Her work is held in the collections of Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia, Savannah College of Art and Design Susan Bridges, Lavona Stringer Currie, Ree Kaneko, Marianne Lambert, Annette Cone Skelton. Whittington is a Professor of Foundation Studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Interview with Martha Whittington |
Let’s start off with who you are and what type of work do you do?
My constructed environments speak to the experience of the human spirit as it faces, in naiveté and innocence, the harshness and treachery of life and labor. This exploration has now evolved into a cultural chronicle as related to modernity. By recreating the history of significant objects and ideas such as manual tools, antique devices, and life experiences of laborers, I build an immersive experience. This new view of life and labor asks the audience to re-examine concepts, archetypal associations and connotations. The eye encounters familiar objects, which become unfamiliar and thought provoking when executed in unexpected materials.
What types of research or experiences influence your artistic process the most?
I am not an artist with a mission or a vision other than to create. My endless making is more a calling from within than a mission. I am inspired by objects: ascribed circle, a cotton rope, a piece of worn leather, an old phonograph: these all can become a vision or a way to fulfill a vision. I am inspired by events: a construction company clear cut the forested acreage behind my home to build bungalows. The sound of the bulldozers and watching a grey fox run down the street inspired a series of metaphorical, non-representational work centered on destruction, reconstruction and restructuring.
What role does art funding have for you as an artist, and in which ways do you believe art has an impact on the public?
It is difficult to advance work that is expensive to produce without financial support. The benefit to the public is in the viewing, but also in noting the contemporary parallel to the global community. The intent is for the audience to understand that art can be objectively fine yet always transmits a story, a concept or a message whether literal or metaphorical.
Taking a look at your work, it seems that public consideration plays a major role on not only the make-up of a piece, but also in the outcomes. Can you touch on the importance that public engagement and communal connections have in your work?
Dialog with the audience is essential to my work. I seek to educate as well as expose the audience to fine art as a means of concept generation, and hopes to activate an examination of both local and global parallels.
You have an upcoming exhibition at SECCA. Can you tell us a little more about the project?
Collective Actions http://collectiveactions.secca.org is a group exhibition curated by Cora Fisher that focuses on collectivity as art. The show informs questions of ecology and sustainability, work and play, accessibility and social action, public and private experience. My work Deus Ex Machina was exhibited in dialog with the Industries for the Blind to talk about the importance of the hand in work.
What other projects or exhibitions do you have planned in the coming year that you are really excited about?
I have three exciting projects in the works. This summer I will be exhibiting Exchange an installation of wall and free-standing sculptural objects depicting the absorption and subtle elimination of a native culture through assimilation and economic manipulation. This project received funding by the OCA Artist Project Grant. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with composer Rae Long on a multimedia opera, and a gallery installation that bridges private and public space with sound and object.
View more of Martha’s work by visiting her website. View all of the work from the artists in our registry by visiting the Registry Page.
In an effort to ensure that grantees receive their funding sooner, the Contracts for Arts Services grant deadline for the 2015-2016 fiscal year will be on March 2, 2015. Visit the Contracts for Arts Services page for additional information, guidelines and the link to the application site.} else {
Best New Gallery: Gallery 72
The latest addition to Atlanta’s legacy of municipal galleries doubles as a testament to the value of rehabilitated urban spaces. By turning the bottom floor of the former Atlanta Journal-Constitutionheadquarte
The Contracts for Arts Services program is proud to present its 2014 Emerging Artist Award recipients – Jessica Caldas and Aubrey Longley-Cook – at an exhibition at Chastain Arts Center Gallery from March 17th to April 17th. Closing reception to be held on April 16th at 6:30pm. To RSVP, click here.
Two Houses is an immersive show investigating interior and exterior views of family. The home is commonly perceived to be a safe space. By engaging various mediums, the artists examine experiences that break from this ideal.
Ever wonder how you can get involved to help support the local arts economy that helps to brighten up your daily life? Visit power2give.org/Atlanta today to peruse arts and culture projects in need of funding right here in Atlanta and donate to efforts you personally connect with. Exercise your power to give!!
